Thinking outside the box

[Skygod44]

If you're a pro or aspire to be one, you should specialize. You need the skills to, and market yourself as, the right person to shoot "this" job. I worked at newspapers and believed I could shoot anything. When that dried up, I found out "this" is not "anything." Clients were looking for specialists.

Today I'm an almost militant hobbyist. I don't want to get paid. I don't want that to be a measure of my work, and I don't need the money. I don't have the access I used to, but I can shoot anything I want as long as I'm allowed to get close enough and not piss anyone off. That leaves me roaming the countryside mostly, but it doesn't define my genre. I'm not looking for landscapes, I'm looking for shots.

I try a lot of different things, a lot of different techniques. If I read an article or watch an interesting video showing something I've never tried, I might see if I can make it work, become familiar with the technique. Most of those are too complicated or too gimmicky to put in the repertoire, but if the situation ever demands it, it's a tool I can use if I can remember how to work it.

I tried my hand at bird photography. I'm an old, formerly-credentialed sports photographer. There's nothing like that in civilian life. Birding comes close, or at least the gear overlaps. I do love me a long lens. For a couple of years I worked hard at becoming a good bird photographer. The problem is that I've never been a hunter and I'm too old to learn. If you want to be a good bird photographer, you have to learn how to sneak up on them. If you can't do that, photo skills and gear don't matter.

So I'm a pretty crummy bird photographer. I can live with that. I still have a bird kit. I take it with me every time I go out, in case I get lucky. Mainly I shoot shorebirds. The ones that don't take much sneaking up on. But it's shooting action with a long lens, so that's fun, and that's really why I'm doing it.

So try stuff. See if you like it. If you do, see if you can get good at it. If you can't, try harder, or not. If you're having fun doing it the way you can, keep doing that. Or just quit and try something new. All those options are valid and open to you.

That's a great addition, Ken.

I love your phrase, "militant hobbyist".

Yes. I think after I pushed away my own pride at my "amazing skills" () and I realised that many clients wanted great photos for less and less of their money, but just as much of my time, becoming a militant hobbyist was the best option.

In another thread, I started the discussion about pro photography not having a future...
... I wonder if "militant hobbyists" (yes, I really do like that phrase!) who take outstanding photos will eventually become a pleaded for contractor, each time a company realises that the latest smartphone photos are simply not good enough...
...but they stopped offering contracts to pro photographers?

Only time will tell, I suppose.

Anyway, my homemade (of course!) chicken curry won't finish cooking itself to perfection, so I better pop over to check if it's ready.

Cheers for now,
Simon

 

[Kuma5]

I let go pursuing photo clients now that they buy/license stock images or use AI production. The email I get from my photo website is from designers or SEO "experts" asking if I am interested in a site overhaul/high Google placement.. The other is spam about weight loss and health care wonders. LOL.

The last interview I had for a "photographer" was more as a gofer to transition between depts. when in peak seasons they need internal overflow labor. There was minimal product to shoot. The HR gal said I'd be doing most the time in the wharehouse checking inventory or shipping them. $18.50/hour. The picker packer at a company down the street was paying $22.50/hour.

 

[Skygod44]

I let go pursuing photo clients now that they buy/license stock images or use AI production. The email I get from my photo website is from designers or SEO "experts" asking if I am interested in a site overhaul/high Google placement.. The other is spam about weight loss and health care wonders. LOL.

The last interview I had for a "photographer" was more as a gofer to transition between depts. when in peak seasons they need internal overflow labor. There was minimal product to shoot. The HR gal said I'd be doing most the time in the wharehouse checking inventory or shipping them. $18.50/hour. The picker packer at a company down the street was paying $22.50/hour.

@Kuma5
Thanks for adding to the thread.

Wow. That hourly rate for a job that's nothing like what you want to do must be terrible for you.
My sympathies.

Of course, I have no idea who you are, so generally speaking, when I was in your position, I said, "To Hell with this!" chucked it all in and moved to a different country.
(No. Not Japan. That was only 21 years ago... I've lived in 6 countries, and all for various reasons).

Not advice because I know nothing about your circumstances. But despite the responses in my "Does Pro Photography have a Future" thread, I enjoy photography MUCH more, now that I don't think of it as a money-maker.

Cheers for now,
Simon

 

[Kuma5]

Hi Simon,

I had so much overlap that while I enjoyed the work it was also close enough to my personal shooting that losing one killed the other. Had other financial issues which 90% of the gear was sold. I kept the lighting, tripods and one body with 2 lenses. I looked last night at gear yet I don't feel that same draw. I took the camera out on a day trip but used the cell phone. Need to develop a new challenge to invigorate the photo side again.

A vacation would be nice and we've been missing Japan. The original goal was to be there for the Olympics but Covid changed that plan. We had a family member moving to the outskirts of Tokyo so other stateside family was also going to be there. Would have been really fun as a family group to play together.

As a separate trip Hokkaido and Niigata for a rail vacation are my goals. I do enjoy the trains there and that may be enough to ignite the photo joys again. We'll see.

 

[Skygod44]

Hi Simon,

I had so much overlap that while I enjoyed the work it was also close enough to my personal shooting that losing one killed the other. Had other financial issues which 90% of the gear was sold. I kept the lighting, tripods and one body with 2 lenses. I looked last night at gear yet I don't feel that same draw. I took the camera out on a day trip but used the cell phone. Need to develop a new challenge to invigorate the photo side again.

A vacation would be nice and we've been missing Japan. The original goal was to be there for the Olympics but Covid changed that plan. We had a family member moving to the outskirts of Tokyo so other stateside family was also going to be there. Would have been really fun as a family group to play together.

As a separate trip Hokkaido and Niigata for a rail vacation are my goals. I do enjoy the trains there and that may be enough to ignite the photo joys again. We'll see.

I hope your plans come good.

And I completely understand how even touching a camera can become like a chore.

For me, being creative is something I need to do. But it's funny how the tiniest thing can put me off.

Anyway, keep smiling, and I'll catch you soon.

Simon